Can You Play Nintendo Switch Without Internet?

Can you play Nintendo switch without internet or WiFi? One question that many people ask is whether the Nintendo Switch requires WiFi to play games. This is a portable gaming device, so you might not have WiFi when you are out of the house.

People love to take the Switch with them on vacation, on road trips, and when they are meeting up with friends, and WiFi isn’t always available. Continue reading to learn all about the Nintendo Switch and whether you need WiFi for it to work.

Can You Play Nintendo Switch Without Internet?

The only time you need WiFi for your Switch is when you set up your console and to download any games from the Nintendo EShop. You will need WiFi to play online games, but you will not need it to play the games you have on cartridges.

Even though you don’t have to connect to the Internet to use your Switch, connecting to WiFi opens up a lot of additional features that you might enjoy.

You can get the Switch Online service, which will automatically update your console, and you can download games from the Nintendo EShop, which can be less expensive than buying cartridges.

In addition, there are multiplayer games available online. If you want to enjoy all of these features, you will need to connect to WiFi.

What Can You Do on the Switch Without WiFi?

Once you have your console set up, you can play all of your cartridge-based games without connecting to WiFi. You can play the games and save your progress.

You don’t need the Internet for this, and you can take your Switch and the cartridges with you when you are out, when you travel, and more, and you never have to worry about not being able to play.

You can also connect your Switch to your friend’s Switch without WiFi, and you can play together. You simply need to be near enough to each other and play a game that has the ability to do multiplayers.

The different games have different ways of connecting, but you simply need two Switches and two cartridges of the same game. You can both boot up and then go to wireless play. You set it up and join each other to play together.

Does the Switch Need WiFi to Play Fortnite?

Fortnite is a very popular game, and people often use the Nintendo Switch to play with their friends. Unfortunately, Fortnite does require that you connect to WiFi because it is only available as an online multiplayer game.

You have to be connected to the Internet to play it because Fortnite is played in real time, and people all over the world connect.

Not only do you need a WiFi connection to play Fortnite, but you also need to have paid for the Switch Online service. This is true of any games that are completely online, and Fortnite is one of them.

When you sign on to play, you will be playing live with other players who are also signed on at that time. It is a lot of fun, but you need Internet access to play.

Does the Switch Need WiFi to Play Animal Crossing?

One of the most popular games for the Switch is Animal Crossing, so you might wonder if you have to have WiFi to play it.

You do not need WiFi to play Animal Crossing, but you do need WiFi if you want to have access to all of the different features that the game has to offer.

For example, you and your friends won’t be able to visit each other’s islands without an Internet connection. If you enjoy playing without the social element, you will have no trouble playing without WiFi.

However, if you enjoy visiting islands, you won’t be able to do this. You can use the Internet-activated features when you have WiFi, and then you can just play when you don’t have access.

Does the Switch Need WiFi to Play Pokemon Shield?

People who are fans of the Pokemon games love playing Pokemon Shield. It is a great game, but they want to know if it is fun without the Internet.

Fortunately, you can play Pokemon Shield without WiFi, and you will be able to access most of the cool features of the game.

You will not be able to trade with other players, and you can’t do WiFi battles without the Internet, but you can catch Pokemon and do a lot of other things.

You have to decide whether you enjoy playing to catch the Pokemon or whether you want to be able to trade and battle with your friends. Luckily, you can use the WiFi features when you have access, and just use other features when you don’t.

What Do You Miss Out on Without WiFi for Your Switch?

Although you can play cartridge games on your Switch without WiFi, there are some things that you won’t be able to do. You can’t play online games that you downloaded, and you will miss out on multiplayer modes for those games.

You can’t play any games that are completely online, such as Fortnite. You will be able to play your cartridge games, but none of the online games. In addition, you won’t be able to get updates for your console or your games.

There are some games that are much more fun when you use multiplayer mode, such as Splatoon 2, so you might not want to play it in single player mode.

You need to make sure that you have downloaded any game you purchase online if you want to play it when you aren’t connected to the Internet.

There isn’t a lot of storage on your Switch for saving games, so you might want to get an SD card to hold those that you want to play.

10 of the Best Nintendo Switch Games That Do Not Require the Internet

The Nintendo Switch is a lot of fun, and it is so popular because it is portable. There are a lot of games that you can play without an Internet connection.

In fact, most of the cartridges do not require any WiFi. Take a look at some of the best games that you can play without an Internet connection.

1. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

The Legend of Zelda is one of the best games for the Nintendo Switch. People love it because it has excellent visuals, and it has an awesome soundtrack.

The world is dynamic, and the game has a great way of storytelling. The combat system is a lot of fun, and Breath of the Wild doesn’t require the Internet. You can take it with you and play no matter where you are.

2. Pokemon Sword and Shield

If you are a fan of the Pokemon franchise, you won’t want to miss this game. When you have WiFi available, you can battle with other players and trade, but you can hunt for Pokemon, find shinies, and do a lot more without it.

3. Super Mario Odyssey

This game offers so much to do in each of the kingdoms. This one has a variety of sandbox kingdoms where Mario can explore and take control of all of his enemies. You can enjoy this game for many hours without WiFi.

4. Fire Emblem: Three Houses

You don’t need the Internet to explore the monastery and have conversations with other units to play this game. You can also engage in all of the battles in your own time. People love this game.

5. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

With this game, you can play in solo adventure mode, and you can go in the form of the World of Light. You will be able to access all of the Smash modes without an Internet connection.

When you are able to access WiFi, you will find that there is a lot of online content, but it isn’t necessary to enjoy playing the game.

6. Under Tale

Under Tale is completely offline, and it is a lot of fun. It is a role play game that has all kinds of twists and turns, and it is an incredible experience.

7. Super Mario Party

This game has a lot of fun features that are all offline, including minigames, party modes, and more. Although they do offer some minigames online, you can play this game without an Internet connection.

8. Cadence of Hyrule

This is a great Legend of Zelda Crypt of the Necromancer game, and it doesn’t have any online content. If you are looking for a completely offline game for your Nintendo Switch, this is a great option.

9. Dragon Quest XI S

When they made this version of the game for the Nintendo Switch, they enhanced the original game in so many different ways. If you are looking for something new to try out, you will want to try this one. You don’t need WiFi to enjoy the game.

10. Celeste

This is a challenging game that takes a lot of skill and patience. It has a great storyline, and the art is amazing. Everything is offered offline, so you won’t need an Internet connection to play the game.

What Is the Nintendo Switch Online Subscription?

If you do have WiFi and want to use the online subscription, there are two different options. One is for individuals, and the other is a family subscription for up to eight users.

The one year subscription costs $20 for an individual, but you can also get it on a monthly basis. It is $4 for one month or $8 for three months. If you plan to play all year, the annual subscription is a better deal.

The family subscription is $35 for the entire year. You can create a family group on the website, and each person gets the online features for less than $5 each for the year.

If you want to subscribe, you just go to the Nintendo Switch EShop to purchase your subscription. There is an orange navigational menu when you open the store on the Switch.

Keep in mind that your subscription will automatically renew unless you choose to opt out of automatic renewal on the shop menu.

Nintendo Switch Online and MultiPlayer Games

Keep in mind that you must have a connection to Nintendo Switch Online if you want to play multiplayer games on the Internet.

If you don’t have a subscription, you can use the wireless play feature to play games with your friends as long as you both have a Switch and a copy of the game.

You can join two Switch consoles this way and you can have as many as three players on each one depending on the game. You just need to be playing a game that has this feature available.

Using the Nintendo Switch Online App to Message

You can talk to your friends while you play online games if you download the Nintendo Switch Online smartphone app. It is available for both iOS and Android, and you simply download it and message your friends while you are playing.

Final Words

People often want to know if they can play the Nintendo Switch without an Internet connection. It is a great portable console, and when you are traveling, you might not have WiFi.

You can enjoy this device on the go without online access, as long as you are playing games that don’t need an Internet connection.

You need to have the cartridge form of the games, or you could have a game saved that you downloaded from the EShop.

However, you won’t be able to play games that are only available online, such as Fortnite, and you can’t play multiplayer games that do require an Internet connection.

Some games may have bonus features that require a connection, but you can play them while you are out without a connection, and then enjoy those features when you are connected again.

As the world becomes more connected, it is easier to find WiFi when you are outside of the home, but you can enjoy a lot of games on your Nintendo Switch with or without it.

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About David

Hey there, I'm David. I recently joined the Spacehop team from Tech Devised, and love writing about all things TECH! When I'm not writing, you can find me enjoying the great outdoors with my golden retriever Lucy or enjoying a pint at my local Irish pub.

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